Personal experience: moving to Spain with the whole family

‘One of the key factors that motivated our family to move to Spain was the mild Mediterranean climate. We wanted to live in a place with a warm climate and more sunny days per year than in our home country,” says Vladimir. ‘In addition, Spain offers excellent conditions for leisure and entertainment, which also attracted us. We chose Alicante in the Mediterranean coast as our future home. It is a beautiful city with schools, hospitals, shops and pristine beaches. My wife was especially attracted to the architecture and rich cultural history of the area.

‘Being in the IT field and having the ability to work remotely, we didn’t have much concern about employment. Both my spouse and I plan to find a position in Spanish companies, but it is not an immediate priority,” shares our protagonist. ‘There are other foreign families in our neighborhood, so we know that for many expats, finding work is the most difficult aspect of relocation. Despite the active development of Alicante and the job opportunities available, the language barrier is a common obstacle for immigrants. The official language of Spain is Spanish (Castilian), but the local population often speaks Catalan or Valencian. To adapt successfully it is necessary to learn Spanish, at least basic phrases and expressions. Knowledge of English is also important. Our friends have told us that the job market is very competitive, especially for foreigners who do not speak Spanish. We recommend Start looking for work before you move or use the services of a reputable employment agency. Many people assume that expats can only count on low-skilled jobs, but that is not the case. There are many job opportunities, even for foreigners, but understanding the language and having a residence and work permit are necessary requirements.’

“The accessibility of education for our son was a crucial factor for us,” says Elena. ‘We were pleasantly surprised to discover that Spain has a high-quality education system that foreign children can access. Enrolling our son in school turned out to be relatively easy. We obtained all the necessary information about the schools in our area and the registration process from the municipal department of the Ministry of Education. Our son was accepted into a local school without any major problems. To apply, we needed the birth certificate, medical and vaccination records, proof of address, proof of permanent residence in Spain, parents’ passports, marriage certificate and photographs of the child. Nothing out of the ordinary. Also pay attention to the psychological aspect. If you are moving with children, make sure they are properly adjusted. A new school, new friends, and a new language can cause stress. It is important to support your child and help him adapt to the new learning environment, Elena emphasizes.’

‘Spain has a public health system that provides quality medical care to all citizens and residents of the country. With the residency known as “padrón,” expatriates have access to free medical care. As for the prices of private services, the cost of a consultation in a good clinic starts at 50 euros and can vary, while laboratory tests usually range between 15 and 200 euros.’ According to Vladimir and Elena, the quality of healthcare in Spain is good.

‘One of the main advantages of living in Spain is the variety of leisure activities available. The transport system in the province of Alicante is well developed, making it easy to enjoy walks along the seafront, visit local parks and gardens and attend cultural events, concerts and exhibitions. There are beautiful beaches, such as Playa de San Juan or Platja del Postiguet, where you can relax and unwind during the week or weekend. The charming neighborhood of old Alicante, Barrio Santa Cruz, with its narrow streets, is worth exploring. Our protagonists tell us that their son enjoys visiting the Museum of Colorful Figures, Museum of Bonfires. In Alicante and throughout Spain there are many things to do for the whole family.’

‘When you move to Alicante, you must be prepared for a long process of social adaptation. Spain has its own traditions and rules of behavior that are often different from what we are used to. For example, Spaniards enjoy long lunches and dinners with friends and family. Many are not very punctual. When moving, it is important to be prepared for the peculiarities of the local mentality, which can cause changes in the rhythm of family life. However, we have been pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the local population towards foreigners. We have a good relationship with our neighbours, our son was accepted into the local school, we received medical care without problems and people in shops speak to us politely.’

“We decided to seek the help of professional consultants to go through all the necessary stages of the visa/residency application process,” our heroes share. ‘The paperwork, the language barrier, the legal complexities, the cultural adaptation and the school search: these tasks require time, effort and patience. But they all pale in comparison to the realization that his family is on the cusp of incredible change,” Vladimir shares. ‘Moving to Alicante is an opportunity to start a new life in the beautiful city of Spain. Immigrating turned out to be an excellent decision for us, he notes. Spain offers many opportunities for leisure and relaxation. We enjoy warm weather, a quality education system, and affordable healthcare. “We feel stable and safe.”